September 12, 2014

Maas started
for three seasons at defensive tackle in college and was a first-team
All-American choice by The Sporting News in 1982. He was chosen by the Chiefs
in the first round of the ’84 NFL draft (fifth overall) and moved into the
starting lineup, although he was hobbled by a leg injury late in the season.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 14
of 16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 5

Most sacks,
game – 3 vs. Cleveland 9/30

Interceptions
– 0

Fumble
recoveries – 0

Awards &
Honors:

NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP

Chiefs went 8-8
to finish fourth in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Maas
continued to play very well in the middle of the defensive line. He had a
seven-sack season in 1985 and again in ’86, when he was selected to the Pro
Bowl for the first of two consecutive years and also received some All-NFL and
All-AFC recognition. A knee injury limited Maas to eight games in 1988 and he
broke his arm 10 games into the ’89 season, at which point Dan Saleaumua
stepped in and excelled. Maas was thus moved to right defensive end in 1990 and
adjusted well, garnering 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, although he lacked
the speed to be a truly effective pass rusher. Following an injury-riddled ’92
season, Maas departed the Chiefs for the Packers as a free agent and moved back
to nose tackle in what was his last season. Overall, Maas played in 130 games,
recorded 40 sacks, returned two of his eight fumble recoveries for touchdowns,
and was credited with two safeties.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).